Phalaenopsis orchid plant named ‘PHALFOWIC’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct variety of  Phalaenopsis  plant named ‘PHALFOWIC’, particularly characterized by having very white, large flowers, 1 to 3 peduncles that are long and sturdy, leaves that are oblong, and is propagated by meristem tissue culture, is disclosed.

Genus and species: Phalaenopsis hybrid.

Variety denomination: ‘PHALFOWIC’.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofPhalaenopsis plant, botanically known as Phalaenopsis hybrid of theOrchidaceae family, commonly referred to as moth orchid, and hereinafterreferred to by the variety name ‘PHALFOWIC’.

The new Phalaenopsis plant is a product of a planned breeding programconducted by the inventor in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands. The objectiveof this breeding program was to create a new Phalaenopsis plant withnumerous attractive and large, very white flowers, suitable for pottedplant production.

The new Phalaenopsis plant ‘PHALFOWIC’ is a result of cross-pollinationmade by the inventor in February 2007 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands ofthe proprietary female, or seed parent, Phalaenopsis hybrid ‘22480-01’(unpatented) with the proprietary male, or pollen parent, Phalaenopsishybrid ‘01-1849’ (unpatented).

The new Phalaenopsis was selected by the inventor as a single plantwithin the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlledgreenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands in February 2010. Asexualreproduction of the new Phalaenopsis plant by meristem tissue culturesince 2012 in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands, has demonstrated that the newvariety reproduces true to type with all of the characteristics, asherein described, firmly fixed and retained through successivegenerations.

Plant Breeder's Rights for this variety have been applied for in Europeon Apr. 18, 2016. ‘PHALFOWIC’ has not been made publicly available orsold anywhere in the world more than one year prior to the filing dateof this application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following are the most outstanding and distinguishingcharacteristics of this new cultivar when grown under normalhorticultural practices in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands and can be used todistinguish ‘PHALFOWIC’ as a new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsisplant.

-   -   1) Very white, large flowers;    -   2) 1 to 3 peduncles;    -   3) Peduncle is long and sturdy; and    -   4) Shape of the leaf is oblong.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

This new Phalaenopsis plant is illustrated by the accompanyingphotographs which show the overall plant habit including blooms, budsand foliage of the plant; the colors shown are as true as can bereasonably obtained by conventional photographic procedures. Thephotographs were taken in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, The Netherlands,from 50-week old plants in July 2016. Colors in the photographs maydiffer from the color values cited in the detailed botanicaldescription, which accurately describe the actual colors of the newvariety.

FIG. 1 shows the overall plant habit, including blooms, buds and foliageof ‘PHALFOWIC’.

FIG. 2 shows a close-up of a flower of ‘PHALFOWIC’.

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the leaves of ‘PHALFOWIC’.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW VARIETY

The following detailed description sets forth the distinctivecharacteristics of ‘PHALFOWIC’. Plants of the new Phalaenopsis have notbeen observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotypemay vary somewhat with variations in environment such as temperature,light intensity and day length, without, however, any variance ingenotype. The chart used in the identification of colors describedherein is The R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society,London, England, 2015 edition, except where general color terms ofordinary significance are used. The color values were determined under4000-6000 lux natural light in a greenhouse in Bleiswijk, TheNetherlands. Observations and measurements were made in July 2016 on50-week old plants which were planted from a nursery tray in 12centimeter (diameter) pots and grown in a greenhouse between 27° C. to29° C. for 30 weeks, continued by a cooling period of 8 weeks between18° C. to 20° C. and 12 weeks in a greenhouse of 21° C.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

-   Classification:    -   -   Family.—Orchidaceae.        -   Botanical.—Phalaenopsis hybrid.        -   Common name.—Moth orchid.        -   Variety name.—‘PHALFOWIC’.-   Parentage:    -   -   Female parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘22480-01’            (unpatented).        -   Male parent.—Phalaenopsis cultivar ‘01-1849’ (unpatented).-   Propagation:    -   -   Type.—Meristem tissue culture.-   Roots:    -   -   Root description.—Greyed-green colored roots with branching            lateral roots having light purple colored root tips.-   Plant:    -   -   Commercial crop time to flowering.—Approximately 48 to 50            weeks from a rooted cutting to finish in a 12 cm pot.        -   Growth habit of peduncle.—Standard, green leaves, panicle.        -   Height (from soil level to top of            inflorescence).—Approximately 52.0 cm to 62.0 cm.        -   Width (measured from leaf tips).—About 36.0 cm to 40.0 cm.        -   Vigor.—Strong.-   Leaves:    -   -   Mature leaves.—Quantity per plant: 8 to 10 leaves are            produced before flowering. Length (fully expanded): 17.0 cm            to 21.0 cm. Width: 7.5 cm to 8.5 cm. Shape: Oblong. Base            shape: Moderately elongated. Apex: Unequal obtuse. Leaf            blade angle with the petiole (measured from the horizontal            position): Between 15 degrees and 30 degrees. Leaf margin:            Entire. Color: Upper surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS            146A. Texture: Slightly rough. Thickness: 2.3 mm to 2.6 mm.            Venation: Pattern: Parallel. Color of the midvein: Upper            surface: RHS 147A. Lower surface: RHS 146A.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Quantity per plant.—1 to 3.        -   Number of flowers per peduncle.—11 to 15.        -   Length.—52.0 cm to 62.0 cm.        -   Diameter.—6.3 mm to 6.6 mm.        -   Strength.—Strong.        -   Aspect.—Upright to pendant.        -   Texture.—Smooth.        -   Color.—Moderate olive brown (RHS N199A) at the base and            green (RHS 146A) towards the inflorescence.        -   Internode length.—3.0 cm to 4.0 cm.        -   Callosities.—None.-   Inflorescence description:    -   -   Appearance.—Upright to slightly pendant, panicle            inflorescence with bilaterally symmetrical flowers that open            in succession beginning with the lowermost flower.        -   Inflorescence size.—Height (from base to tip): 250.0 mm to            280.0 mm.        -   Flowering time.—First flowers can be expected 10 to 11            months after planting in a 12 cm (diameter) pot.        -   Flower.—Height: 81.0 mm to 83.0 mm. Diameter: 95.0 mm to            100.0 mm. Depth of lip: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm.        -   Flower longevity.—On the plant: 14 to 22 weeks.        -   Fragrance.—Absent.        -   Flower bud.—Length: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Width: 22.0 mm to            24.0 mm. Shape: Egg shaped. Color: Light green (RHS 145B to            145C) with a little touch of light purple (RHS 77D).        -   Petals.—Arrangement: Open/free. Shape: Semi-circular. Apex:            Rounded asymmetric. Margin: Slightly undulated. Length (from            base to tip): 46.0 mm to 48.0 mm. Width: 60.0 mm to 62.0 mm.            Color (when fully opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White            (RHS NN155C). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic            color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Absent.        -   Dorsal sepal.—Shape: Elliptic. Apex: Obtuse symmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 47.0 mm to            49.0 mm. Width: 35.0 mm to 37.0 mm.        -   Color (when fully opened).—Upper surface: Basic color: White            (RHS NN155C). Over color: Absent. Lower surface: Basic            color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Light purple, fading            after opening (RHS 76C).        -   Lateral sepals.—Shape: Ovate. Apex: Obtuse asymmetric.            Margin: Entire. Length (from base to tip): 47.0 mm to            49.0 mm. Width: 29.0 mm to 31.0 mm. Color (when fully            opened): Upper surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C).            Over color: Light green (RHS145B) at the base. Lower            surface: Basic color: White (RHS NN155C). Over color: Light            green (RHS 145C) at the base and slightly light purple (RHS            76C) towards the apex.        -   Labellum (lip).—Whiskers: Present. Length of whiskers: 21.0            mm to 23.0 mm. Color of whiskers: Greenish-yellow (RHS 5A).            Pubescence on the lip: Absent.        -   Lateral lobe.—Shape: Spatulate. Margin: Undulated. Length            (from base to tip): 22.0 mm to 24.0 mm. Width: 18.0 mm to            20.0 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C) with greenish-yellow (RHS            151B) on one side and stripes at the base (RHS 175A).        -   Apical lobe.—Shape: Triangular. Margin: Entire. Length: 22.0            mm to 24.0 mm. Width: 24.0 mm to 26.0 mm. Color: White (RHS            NN155C) and greenish-yellow (RHS 151B) towards the callus.        -   Callus.—Average size: Medium to large. Height: 0.6 cm to            0.8 cm. Length: 0.7 cm to 0.9 cm. Width: 0.4 cm to 0.6 cm.            Color: Yellow (RHS 5A) and dotted (RHS 175A).        -   Reproductive organs.—Column: Length: 9.0 mm to 11.0 mm.            Diameter: 5.9 mm to 6.1 mm. Color: White (RHS NN155C).            Pollinia: Quantity: 2. Diameter: 1.2 mm to 1.4 mm. Color:            Orange (RHS 24A). Ovary: Length: 10.0 mm to 12.0 mm.            Diameter: 2.3 mm to 2.5 mm. Pedicel: Length: 32.0 mm to            34.0 mm. Diameter: 2.6 mm to 2.8 mm. Color: Green at the            base (RHS 146D) and lighter green (RHS 157B) towards the            flower.-   Disease, pest, and stress resistance: No specific resistance or    susceptibility observed to pathogens and pests common to    Phalaenopsis.-   Fruit and seeds: Fruit and seed development has not been observed on    plants of the new Phalaenopsis to date.

COMPARISON WITH PARENTAL AND COMMERCIAL VARIETIES

The female parent of ‘PHALFOWIC’, cultivar ‘22480-01’ (unpatented), isno longer in existence, so a meaningful comparison cannot be made.

‘PHALFOWIC’ differs from male parent plant ‘01-1849’ (unpatented) byflower size, whisker length and pedicel length. ‘PHALFOWIC’ has smallerdiameter flowers, shorter whiskers and shorter pedicels than ‘01-1849’.

‘PHALFOWIC’ is most similar to the commercial Phalaenopsis plants named‘PHALDIPWEQ’ (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 26,466) and ‘PHALZIFY’ (unpatented).‘PHALFOWIC’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ in that‘PHALFOWIC’ has a yellow, dotted callus, whereas ‘PHALDIPWEQ’ has anorange-yellow callus. Additionally, ‘PHALFOWIC’ has smaller flowers andshorter whiskers than ‘PHALDIPWEQ’.

‘PHALFOWIC’ differs from the commercial variety ‘PHALZIFY’ in that‘PHALFOWIC’ has a lateral sepal lower surface overcolor with light greenat the base and light purple towards the apex, whereas ‘PHALZIFY’ has alateral sepal lower surface with no overcolor. Additionally, ‘PHALFOWIC’has longer whiskers and larger flowers than ‘PHALZIFY’.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Phalaenopsis plant named‘PHALFOWIC’, substantially as described and illustrated herein.